THE AVI-FAUNA OF WIMBLEDON COMMON. 241 
out; he was also very fond of a bone or a bit of meat. The 
Wren is everywhere; his joyous loud song greeted one in all 
parts—in the gardens, on the heath, and on the common. 
At the end of our garden was a circular pond covered 
with the white water-lily, and full of fish, small gold carp and 
others, and a plentiful supply of frogs. The pond was over- 
shadowed by a willow tree. One morning early I was sur- 
prised to see a Kingfisher rise from the water, and fly over 
the next field to a larger pond. This bird came constantly to 
our pond, I suspect, for the small frogs, as these used to sit 
on the large leaves of the water-lily, and became an easy prey to 
the bird. 
A pair of Ring Doves, or Wood Pigeons, Columba palumbus, 
built close to our garden, and there were others in the neighbour- 
hood. The soft “coo-coo-coo” of the male bird, and the loud flap 
of his wings as he rises from his perch and soars up and descends 
with open wings to the call of his mate in a neighbouring tree, is a 
pleasant episode in the many and varied movements and voices of 
bird-life. On the lower part of the common the Turtle Dove 
has been met with. 
The Pheasant, being strictly preserved in Richmond Park 
and Coombe Wood, is occasionally flushed on the Common. 
The same may be said of the Partridge, and one morning I saw 
a brace of these birds running down the gravel-walk in my 
garden. 
Both the Peewit and the Golden Plover have been shot on 
Wimbledon Common, and I believe the Peewit has bred there. 
The Heron is occasionally found; two or three of these birds 
may always be seen at the large pond in Richmond Park, and 
also at the pond in Wimbledon Park. 
The Curlew is an occasional visitor, though very rare visitor ; 
and a pair of Sandpipers, or Summer Snipes, every summer 
frequent the lower part of Beverley Brook. 
Up to 1874 hardly an autumn passed without a Woodcock 
being shot; and the Common Snipe and Jack Snipe were very 
plentiful all the winter, three or four couples being often shot 
in a morning up to the time of draining the Common. Now, 
I believe, these birds are very scarce. The Landrail has been 
shot on Wimbledon Common; and the Moorhen and the Coot 
frequented the large pond in Wimbledon Park. 
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